Chapter 8: Making Pastries
If nothing else, she was good at this. After getting along with her for a while, Ruan Wanwan realized that this queen was actually not as majestic as she had imagined. She was even very talkative, and she gradually relaxed.
"The pastries in the Empress's Palace are naturally delicious and very popular, but Wanwan has tasted another kind of pastry. It is soft and elastic, with a fresh and tender taste. It is much more delicious than the pastries in the palace!
"
She said it very seriously. The queen was busy dealing with the affairs of the harem all day long, and rarely had any free time. She was very fond of her charming look and said with a smile: "It's just a matter of staying with young girls like you."
It makes people feel happy, I just feel that I am much younger."
Ruan Wanwan swallowed a mouthful of pastry, looked at the queen sitting on it seriously, and shook her head: "What are you talking about? You are as beautiful as a fairy, and you are not old at all."
During this conversation, Ruan Wanwan didn't realize that he had revealed his true nature, and was still talking seriously. However, Luan Xing beside him felt a sweat in his heart, and reminded him in a low voice: "Miss, it's not right to say this."
Okay, please stop talking."
How can anyone talk about the appearance of the current queen like this? It might be spread out, but it's a big sin, Luan Xing said, but Ruan Wanwan didn't take it to heart at all, and even the queen didn't notice it.
Touching her cheek, the smile on the queen's face faded a lot, and she sighed: "After all, I am getting older, and the lead powder applied on my face every day is not what it used to be."
Lead powder? Ruan Wanwan pricked her ears and heard these two words, and felt a little hesitant. She had traveled through time, so she naturally knew that applying lead powder, although it looked shiny on the surface, would actually damage the foundation of the skin machine.
It was difficult to say this. Ruan Wanwan hesitated for a while, but decided to say it: "Pink powder is only for temporary beauty, but in fact, we must pay attention to inner conditioning, and we must not be greedy for temporary good looks."
When Ruan Wanwan's words came out, the queen was slightly startled. No one had ever dared to say these words in front of her. Even the women in the harem did not dare to be careless in order to compete for the holy favor. Although she felt that there was no basis for it, the queen was still careful.
After thinking about it, it seems that applying lead powder is not as glamorous as everyone thinks, and the cheeks will even turn gray and yellow in the next few days.
Although she didn't know whether it was true or not, the queen still thanked her for her kindness: "I will think about what you said."
After all, this topic was not suitable for further discussion, so the Queen dismissed it hastily. Ruan Wanwan pretended that nothing had happened. Someone said this and soon returned to the cake.
"You just said that you know of cakes that are more delicious than those in the palace? Can you tell me so that I can listen carefully and see if you can find someone to make them someday." The queen smiled lightly while sipping tea, wondering if the two of them were getting along.
Talking together.
Ruan Wanwan was a little excited when she mentioned this. Regardless of Luan Xing beside her, she winked at her and said: "It's not that troublesome. This pastry is Wanwan's specialty. If I don't mind it, I'll go to the small kitchen right away.
Make it and give it to your wife to try."
The small kitchen is usually for cooking according to her taste, and there is nothing new after eating too much. But the ladies from official families are usually put aside, and they can only do elegant things like embroidery in the boudoir. I have never seen anyone who can cook.
Yes, the queen smiled and said: "Oh? You can cook, maybe. If you want to go, just go."
Luan Xing couldn't persuade her several times. Seeing that the queen was kind-hearted, she stopped trying to persuade her and followed Ruan Wanwan into the small kitchen resignedly.
Within half an hour, a plate of pastries was brought up. When you opened the lid, the aroma was already flowing out. It looked light yellow and looked very good.
This was developed by Ruan Wanwan when he was bored after traveling through time. It is similar to modern cakes, but the taste is slightly different.
The queen only tasted one, and couldn't help but admired: "What a skill, I have never tasted such a special pastry."
"If your Majesty likes it, I will make it often." After Ruan Wanwan finished speaking, she frowned again, "I'd better write this recipe on paper so that your Majesty can satisfy her cravings when I'm not around."
The prescription was written down by her, and the two of them laughed and joked for a while. It was already getting late, and Ruan Wanwan got up to say goodbye. When he left Yanqing Palace, he felt an unreal feeling.
"Your Majesty's temper really matches mine." She squeezed her wrist. Although the Queen has a good temper, making pastries is really tiring work, and she was a little tired after sitting all afternoon.
Luan Xing didn't know what to say about her. The two of them walked out of the palace gate and saw the carriage outside. The pattern on it was very familiar.
"But do you want me to pick you up personally?" A familiar voice came, and Beiliangye looked at her with his hands behind his hands.
He actually came to pick her up in person. Ruan Wanwan trotted over and looked at his face. She knew in her heart that this man just didn't want to lower her head. She chuckled and followed him into the car, feeling some inexplicable emotions in her heart.
The carriage was walking slowly. Ruan Wanwan rarely spoke much today, nodding his head from time to time, looking extremely sleepy.
After only staying in the palace for half a day, it became like this. Bei Liangye felt a little distressed and wanted to reach out to hug her, but then he remembered that the relationship between the two was not close. Not to mention the love between husband and wife, they were not even as good as strangers who met by chance. There was something in his heart.
Not feeling it, he pretended not to care and asked, "Did the Queen mother cause trouble for you in the palace today, or did something else happen?"
Ruan Wanwan's sleepy eyelids were fighting at the moment. It felt better for him to take the initiative to talk to her, and said in a daze: "My queen is very good to me. Nothing happened, she just didn't get a good rest."
After saying this, Bei Liangye felt more relieved. He reached out and took out a paper bag from the secret compartment and held it in his hand. He hesitated for a moment before handing it out: "This is the candied haws I bought on the road. Do you want to eat it?"
He once remembered that Ruan Wanwan liked to eat sweets, especially candied haws, which was her favorite. But it was awkward for him, a grown man, to give it to her.
Hearing the words "candied haws on a stick", Ruan Wanwan's sleepiness was reduced by half, her eyes lit up, she reached out to take the candied haws on a stick, nibbled on one, and narrowed her eyes happily: "This is my favorite Chen Ji, thank you for your hard work.
"
This was freshly made, and the sugar coating on the outside was crispy and refreshing, but not too sweet. The fatigue in Ruan Wanwan's heart was swept away, and a faint warmth arose.
Originally prepared to be rejected, Bei Liangye did not say the second half of the sentence, but suddenly felt that this was not bad.
As soon as the two of them got off the carriage, Bei Liangye's men came over and said, "Your Highness, I have something to discuss with you. Can it be convenient for me to come over?"
Business first, Ruan Wanwan was afraid that he would mention staying overnight again in the evening, so she nodded: "Go ahead, I won't keep you for dinner."
Chapter completed!